GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Behind a career high 26 points from Kiyah Hurst, the North Dakota women's basketball team posted an 82-53 win over Minot State in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center Tuesday.
 
The Fighting Hawks found their offensive groove in the second quarter, outscoring the Beavers 25-12 while posting a .688 shooting percentage. The score was tied 10-10 after the first quarter, and Minot State stuck with the Hawks to start the second before UND began to pull ahead. A three-pointer from DJ Davis at the midway point of the quarter started a 12-0 Fighting Hawk run to take a 33-19 lead. Following the Davis triple, the bench unit provided a spark to close the half, scoring 10 of the final 14 NoDak points to hold a 35-22 at intermission.
 
Hurst connected on 11-of-16 shot attempts on her way to 26 points and knocked down a pair of three-pointers. Hurst also helped the Hawks win the rebounding battle, 41-32, with a team high eight boards.
 
The Hawks momentum carried into the third period, as UND expanded its lead to 60-32 after 30 minutes of action. Hurst poured in 11 points in the quarter on 4-of-5 shooting and was active on the boards, corralling four rebounds off MSU misfires. Sammiyah Hoskin was a nuisance on the defensive end, swiping three steals in the period on her way to a new career best four steals. Similar to the second quarter, the Hawks dug in on both ends of the floor to close out the period with a 13-1 run to take a 60-32 advantage.
 
Over the second and third quarters, UND outscored Minot State 50-32 while converting on 21-of-31 field goal attempts with five three-pointers.
 
North Dakota's efficient shooting continued into the final quarter as they connected on .533 percent of its shots with two more treys. Mikayla Aumer paced the Hawks with seven points and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. UND grabbed its largest lead of the night, 62-32, following a bucket from Hurst with 9:25 left in the fourth.
 
While the Hawks shot just under .500 percent from the field in the first quarter and held MSU to .250 percent from the field, the score was knotted at 10. Kiera Pemberton was a perfect 3-for-3 in the first with six points.
 
North Dakota returns to the Betty on Sunday for a meeting with Eastern Michigan at 1:00 p.m.
 
Postgame Notes 

• Kiyah Hurst led the Hawks in scoring for the second straight game with 26 points
• Kiera Pemberton was a perfect 6-for-6 on her way to 12 points
• Sammiyah Hoskin set a new career best with four steals
• North Dakota hit a season-high seven three-pointers
• NoDak's .596 shooting percentage was the first time this season they've shot over .500 percent from the field
• UND set a new season high in assists with 16 helpers
• North Dakota has now tallied nine steals in three games this season
• UND now holds a 13-6 edge all-time record and 10-2 mark at the Betty against Minot State
• In her second game in the green and white, Fatima Ibrahim totaled six points, five rebounds and two blocks

  
How It Happened 

Q1: UND 10, MSU 10
Q2: UND 35, MSU 22
Q3: UND 60, MSU 32
Q4: UND 82, MSU 53

For more information on North Dakota women's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDwbasketball.